Wire-fence machine.



P. A. & W. V REID 6a 3. KELLEY.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPUCAHON FILED mvzs. 1905.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

6 SHEETS-I|EET M I art-sung Wit mow J 29 P. A. 61 W. V REID & J. KELLEY.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 1905.

1,160,089. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

rn rn P. A. 6: W. V. REID 611. KELLEY.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPucmou FILED IMY 29. mos

1 ,1 60,089. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- P. A. & W. V REID 81]. KELLEY.

WIRE FENCE MACHtNE.

APPLICATION HLED MAY29.1905.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

6 SHEETSSHEET 4.

9 l 0 rl n Q U 3 Witneowq P. A. & w. v REID & J. KELLEY.

we was MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED MAYZ9.1905.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

1,160,089 a smears-swan s P. A. & W. V. REID & l. KELLEY.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 1905.

1,160,089. Patented Nov. 9, 1915. h A 5 SHEETSSHEET 6- L", f @m "v .means, and being introduce UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' PETTIS A. REID, WALTER V. BED, AND JAMES KELLEY, F RICHMOND, INDIANA; SAID ALTER V. REID AND JAMES KELLEY ASSIGNOBS TO SAID PETTIS A. REID.

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.

mond,,in the county of lVayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Fence Machines; and we do hereb declare the following to be a full, clear, an exact description of the invention, such as-will, enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use'thesame. V

.This inventionrelates to wire working Specification of Letters Patent.

" Application my 29, lacs. Serial No. 262,966.

721567, or successively, as in Patent No. 721568.

The present invention accomplishes the important object of performing in one automatic machine the operation of making the stays and applying them to the strands; the formation of the stays being concurrent with the attachment thereof.

In carrying out the invention, a series of parallel strands, spaced at desired distances, are drawn intermittently through the machine under tension, as in the machine of Patent No.- 721605, while a stay-feed-wire machinery, particularly to machines for is also fed intermittently across the strands,

makingwlre-fabric or fencing comprising longitudinal strands, gunners orline wires, and sta s or cross-wires'attached thereto at interva s.

In this specification the parallel runners or line-wires will be. referred to as the strands, and the cross-wires as.the"stays.

The expression stay-feed-wire will be emplayed to denote the feed-wire from which the stays are successively formed and sev- United States Patent No. 721605," a Feb pkl aryrfii, 1903 to P. A. Reid, J. Kelley and Reid (the inventors of the present machine), covers a fabric-making or wire 80 'fence machine in which the strands, havin been threaded through the machine, arelfe or drawn under tension step by step or intermittently, while the stays are attached during the intervals of pause, by coiling,

twisting or wra ping around the strands the extremities an intermediate' loops of the stays placed across said strands; the stays, comprising wire sections formed with projecting loops at intervals corresponding to 40 th number and spaces of the strands, having been previously formed b independent at proper periods to the fence machine.

Machines for forming the stays are'illustrated and described in U. S. Patents of February 24, 1903, Nos. 721567 and 721568, to J. Kelley and P. A. Reid, and to J. Kelley, W. V. and P. A. Reid, respectively; the principle of both machines being to hold orsu port a wire at different portions of lengt and to bend or fold intervening porv tions into 100 s as the clamps, holders 01' supports are rought together, which may be either concurrently, as in Patent No.

- strands and cut off or severed length of said feed-wire. The strands pass through a series of coilers or twisters, which operate during the interim of pause of the strands, and work in slight progression. The first twister, which is the one most remote from the feed-mechanism for the stay-feedwire, bends, coils or wraps the extremity of said feed-wire around the outermost strand of the series; and in regular progressive order the other 'twisters pull or. draw loops in the body of said feed-Wire, and coil, twist,

wind or wrap said loops around the strands; thus forming and attaching the stay, which is severed from the feed-wire by the cutter.

The purpose of the progressive action of the series of twisters is to allow each twister to draw a sufiicient length of the feed-wire to form a loop before the action of. the next twister begins so as to avoid breakage of the feed-wire by the simultaneous drawin or formation of a number of loops in a given length. r

The invention embraces novel and exceedingly efiective mechanism for performing the functions stated, including improve coilers or twisters, operating and timin mechanism, and mechanism for guiding an positing the stay-'feed-wire in the operation for forming and attachin the stays; improved feed-mechanism for t e stay-feedwire; mechanism for straightenin the stayfeed-wire as it comes from its ree or spool, and before it passes to the machine; various iin rovements throughout the fence-machine, adapting the same to the performance of its greater work; and the cooperative organization of the severa lynovel mechanisms rapnlity of operation,-saving time, labor,

power and machinery in the manufacture of wiw fencing or fabric of the character noted.

The accom mn rmg drawings, which form a part of this spwiiication, illustrate a practical embodiment of the invention in a machine of the same general character as that shown and described in the aforesaid Patent No. 721605, in which patented machine the strands pass from their spools through a series of tension devices, thence are threaded through the twisters or coilers, thent'e between stationary jaws which grip and hold the strands taut while at rest, and between reciprocating jaws which intermittently grip and draw back the series of strands, and finally to the reel which winds the finished fabric. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to this or an specific embodiment, but is susceptible of incorporation in different machines, and is independent of the particular mechanisms employed for tensioning, guiding and feeding the wires; while the novel mechanisms constituting the invention are also susceptible of various modifications in details of construction, arrangement and coordination of parts, particularly in respect to the gearing and mechanical contrivances employed for actuating said mechanisms; so that the following description will be considered with reference more especially to the illustrated machine, and the invention will then be particularly pointed out and defined in the apnexed claims. 7

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying our invention; The reciprocating clutch-jaws are shown at their extreme rearward position, at the completion of one intermittent feed movement. The forward position of said jaws, preliminary to gripping the wires for the next feed, is indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the machine, in the same phase of operation as in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view, including the feedmechanism for the stay-fecd-wirc and parts of the sta y-feed-wi re guiding and positing mechanism and the stayforming and attaching mechanism. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, including a front elevation of the stay-fced-wire feedmechanism and a vertical cross-section of a part of the machine through the guiding and positing mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a ratchet or clutch mechanism included in the feed-mechanism f or the stay-feedvire. Fig. i is a diagrammatic view. showing the heads or faces of a series of coilers or twisters in progressive operation upon the stayfeed-wire, to form the stay and attach it to Fig. 7 is a detail view showing a fragment of the guiding and positing mechanism for the stay-feed-wire, in front elevation. Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in longitudinal vertical section through the stayapplying mechanism and the stationary jaws; showin in side elevation/the stayfeed-wire gui ing and positing devices and the stay forming and attaching mechanism for one strand; The guiding and positing devices appear in full lines, in the positions assumed while the stay-feed-wire is being fed across the series of strands; and the dotted lines represent their movements in transferrin the stay-feed-wire from the guides and pacing it against or adjacent to the strands in proper position for engagement by the twisters. Fig. 9 is a detail side view of the twister and lever for-operating the slip-collar connected to the looping tool, showing the latter retracted. Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are three perspective views of a twister, in different phases of the operation of forming and attaching a stay. Fig.1? is a perspective view of the actuating mecha-. nism for the stay-applying mechanism. Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of one of the devices for guiding the stay-feed-wire. Figs. 15, 16, and 17 are detail views of mechanism employed for revolving the first twister in a reverse direction to the other twisters of the series.

The illustrated machine being of substantially the same general character as that set forth in our aforesaid Patent No. 721605, a.

'brief explanation of its general construction and operation will sufiice, preliminary to a specific description of our present invention. Reference is now made particularly to Figs. 1 and 2.

Power is applied at 'piilleyl (Fig. 2) on the power shaft 2, which is movable and has a frictiongear or drum 3 (Fig. 1) adapted to engage a friction-gear or drum 4 on a counter-shaft 5. Said co unter-shaft 5 is geared by spurs or gear-wheels fi to another counter-shaft 7, which latter is the main driving-shaft from which power is transmitted to the various mechanisms and operative members of the machine. lhe intermediate shaft 5 is employed to reduce the speed from the power shaft. and take the initial strain when the power is applied. though if preferred the main shaft 7 may be driven directly from the power shaft 2.

In order to instantly start and stop the machine at any stage of operation, for adjustment or other purposes, the friction drum is movable to and from the frictiondrum 4; tile shaft 2 having a movable bearing connected by a rod 8 to a. retracting fisprin f. which tends g hold the friction-/ drum 3 away from the co-acting friction drum 4; and said rod 8 being connected by a the strands threaded through said twisters. bell-crank lever 9 to a treadle 0r foot-lever 133il 10, which the operator depresses to bring the friction-gears or drums into operative or driving contact.

The strands X, coming from coils or bundles on suitable spools, reels orthe like, are threaded through the machine, first passing over, under or around a series of uniformly rotative ids-rollers 11, engaged by pressure app iances, as Hand 13, the rollers having graduated circumferential grooves to receive and hold the wires with their longi- .tudinal centers equidistant from the axis of rotation, so as to insure uniform advance of all the strands as they are drawn through 16 the machine against the'resista'nce afi'orded [,by this tension mechanism. The guiding wand tensioning mechanism shown issimilar to thatdescribed and claimed in the patent to James Kelley, one ,of the: present invenaq/torsfNo. 336,977, dated November 27, 1906, [afor a.v wire tensioning device, the same being oningi. of the fence-machine ,govere by ourPatent No. 721,605, Accordto this improvement, the several strands iinejvires encircle their respective rollers,

{their ongoing rtions are forcibly thereof bythe pressure appliances 12. This chuse sthe strands to adhere positively around rly .the-wholecircumferences of the rolliprevents slipping, and-holds the wires derhigh tension against the devices which through the machine. j The wires thus; advanced-fin absolutely equal fas' ewe'lliias under uniform tension,

" ife-the jrollers, ch are, a1 keyed on the ame shaft to turn together. j The pressure apfil a'nees "12 comprise rollers held in suitor. leversadapted to be locked in o'sitionto bear the wires against the guide bl a ii h .nrew re, n t be tingq lred for re easing themwhen desired; an fz 'fi'ectrve construction being full described ithQL -SPGCIfiQfltlQD of said atent No. 21,605, and also infthe specification of said Ifatent 'No; 836,97 7. The pressure appliaiil3laregauxiliary devices, bearin the oil- 9 gomg portions of the wires upon the guide rollersyjust before ,leavin said guide-roll- 'ers,-so 'asto hold the stran sin their grooves i 'For operating the atf:all l(ii;iines, zthether Ithe gpplialpces 12fiare ,=a l "orno a'e ine int'es i car't ri as the stiaf iiii Patent No. $55,977. From the'guidiii'g'a 'dtension mechanism, 'thesti'ands are thread kl through the coilers ,for tviisters (described hereinafter) thence .Tbqtwee'n the stationary aws 14 and the trav- ,oi drajw rearward the series of strands, thus f eed1ng them step-by-step. [The stationary an iniprbvemenhupon the guiding and tenagainst the re or inthe grooves 'g idym -b jn%iaccordin totherotation.

filsehngjreciprocating jaws 15. The reciprofitlng' aws 15 -1nternuttently grip and pull' ciprocating jaws are moving forward to obtam a new grip upon the wires. Thus the strands are always gripped and held taut either by the stationary or traveling jaws, one set of said jaws always clutching substantially simultaneously with or an instant before the release of the wires by the other set of jaws so as to stretch the fence or fabric at all times independently of the action of the reel, and every strand of the series with equal tension. From the reciprocating jaws, the finished fabric passes to the winding reel. As in our former patented machine, the co-acting or opposed faces ofthe jaws are preferably provided with c0- acting ribs and grooves to crlmp the strands.

The traveling jaws 15 are mounted on a suitable carriage, such as the slides 16, and are actuated or reciprocated by the rockers -17. Said rockers are connected to the jaws or to the jaw-carriage, and they are operated by the cranks 18 on the shaft 7, said cranks having rollers which travel in internal cams'in the rockers and move them to and fro at the proper periods. This is shownin Fi land 2, principally b dotted lines. e throw of the rockers 7 determines the travel of the jaws, and consequently determines the distance of each intermittent feed of the strands and the intervals between the stays.

j Thestationary jaws 14 are preferably arranged to rip and crimp the strands either coincident y with the connections of the stays, or midway-between adjacent stays;

while the travelin jawsarepmferably arrangedto grip an crimpf at t e stays; each rearward travel of said jaws bing the distance from one stay to the next. The 'crim s inthe strands are thus formed coincident ywith the connections of the stays, providing seats for on b connections and preventing slipping of fhe stays on the stands; -or the crimps may beform'ed that and between the stays, accprding'to he extent oftravel of the reciprodatihgjaws, as ex lained in Jghe specifiqatiiin" of said Patent 0. 721 605.

The mtenne ate prim s may be desired for imparti as yvel as for rendering the fence more y fiib a T jaws"14,an'd 15 to grip and rejea'sfi the wires, onc"'aw of each pair (preferably-H upper ouch is fixed, while the other or lower jaw is vertically movable in its side frames. The up er jaws are shown pivotally-connectcd by inks 19 with cranks 20 on the'lower jaws. The arrangement is such that when the links stand vertical, or in alinement with the cranks, the jaws are closed; while any disturbance of this arrangement of the dead centers, by moving the cranks to an inclined position, will allow the lower jaws to drop by gravity; thus separating the jaws to release the wires.

g additional ,e asticity to the fabric,

'. rock-shaft 26; said rock-shaft having a rocker-arm 27 connected by a link or rod 28 to a rocker 29. The rocker 29 is actuated by a roller carried by a crank 30 on the driving shaft 7, said roller engaging an internal cam in said rocker. \Vhen the reciprocating jaws reach the limit of their rearward trayel, the frames 22niove' forward, and the pins 23 actuate the cranks of the reciprocatin jaws to release the wires. Simultaneously t i'erewith or an instant previously, they actuate the I cranks of the stationary jaws to grip the wires. The reciprocating jaws then move forward to obtain a new grip upon the wires.

When at the limit of their for-ward travel,

the frames 22 inove backward, and the pins 23 then actuate the cranks of the reciprocating jaws to grip the wires, while they actuate the cranks of the stationary jaws torelease the same. Thus the wire is always gripped and held taut between one set.of aws and the tensioning devices, as before stated: v

From the reciprocating jaws, the fabric passes to the winding reel 31, which is driven to automatically wind the fabric as the same is intermittently drawn out by the traveling jaws by means of a slack belt passing around the pulleys'32 and 33, suitable tension bein imparted to this belt by a weighted roll er or otherwise. The reel, ha ving taken up the slack of the fabric, is held against further winding rotation by the slipping of the belt on the momentarily idle reel pulley 32, unwinding movement of the reel being at all times prevented by means of the pa wl-enga ged ratehet'ill. The reel can be removed from the machine and knocked down for removal of the finished fabric thereon, as

7 described in the specification of said Patent The machine thus far described is substantially similar to that of our aforesaid Patent No. 721005, so that further description is deemed unm-ecssary; the foregoing being sufiicient to impart a elearunderstanding of the general construction and operation.

lVe shall now proceed with a description of the novel mechanism, devices, features, and ,COIl'lblIliltlOl'lS thereof constituting our present invention considering in order the following: (1) the stay-feed-wire straightener; (2) the feed mechanism for the stayfeed-wire; (3) the devices for guiding the stay-feed-wire across the strands; (4) the positing mechanism or devices for trans ferring the stay-feed-wire from the guides and placing it adjacent to the strands in proper position for formation and attachment of the stay by the twisters (5) the twisters or the stay forming and attaching mechanism; 6) the actuating mechanism therefor; and 7) the cutter.

The stay-feed-Wire Y, coming from a bundle'or coil on a suitable spool, reel or the like, is preferably passed through some a propriate straightening mechanism to ta e out all coil, spiral, bend or unevenness, and to enable the feed-mechanism to feed a straight length of wire across the strands for utilization as a stay. Effective mechanism for this purpose is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Here are shown two straightenin devices 35, each comprising a frame having a series of grooved rollers 36 arranged in opposed rows to receive the stay-feed-Wire betweenthem; the rollers of onerow alternating with those of the other row, and bearing oppositely upon the wire, which is thus oompelled -to take a slightly zigzag. course through the straightener. The rollers 36 are mounted on blocks 37 which are adjust- .able in th frames by means of set-screws,

zontal plane, so that the wire is operated upon at all sides and thus effectually straightened.

In order to avoid any reverse movement of the sta -feed-wire, on account of the resistence o the coil from which it is unwound or for other causes, a spring-actuated dog or detent 39 is shown ivoted at the intake end of the first straig tener 35; the lower serrated end of said detent bearin upon the wire in such manner as to allow Free infeed thereof, but preventing any outward move ment.

From the straighteners, the stay-feed-wire passes between coacting grooved feed-rollers 40, which intermittently feed said wire across the strands. See Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Said rollers are rotated in opposite directions by the intermeshing gears 41' on their spindles. The stay-feed-wire is preferably fed under the strands, for greater compactness and superior arrangement and operation of the guiding, positing and stay-applying mechanism, as will hereinafter appear.

This is not essential however; said wire may grip with heavy pressure during the periods of feed, so,as to insure positive and full feed and prevent slipping: and to grip with less force during the intervals between feeds, so as to allow the wire to be more easily pulled inward by the twisters,each of which in forming a loop pulls in an additional portion of the wire approximately equal to the length contained in a loop. To this end, one of the roller-shafts is ournaled in a fixed bear ng 42, while the other has a movable bearin 43. Acting between the bearing-box 43 an an abutment 44 is a stout spring 45, which always holds the feed-rollers together with 16 force, yet with suilicient yield to allow the wire to be pulled more easily inward by the pullin or drawing action of the coilers. A movab e pin 46 passes through the part 44, hearing against the sprin 45. At the periods of feed, a cam 47 on s aft 48 actuates the lever or bell-crank 49 to force the in 46 inward and further compress the spring 45; thus causing the rollers to grip the stayfeed-wire with great force for the feeding operation. The n per arm of the bell-crank lever 49 is shown aiaieng an adpisting screw 46 in line with and aring against the end of pin 46, the latter passing loosely through the member 44. The roller shaft in bearing .42 1s preferably connected by any suitable clutch or ratchet device 50 with the driving spindle .51; the purpose of the clutch or ratchet "being to allow rotation of the rollers oply 36 in the direction of feeding inward the wire. In Fig. 5, number 52 denotes *an inner clutch-ring on the rolle.-shaft; 53 an outer clutch, ring on the driving spindle; the one ring being seated within the other, and suitable devices being inter osed to rotate the roller-shaft with the riving spindle, and'yet allow independent turning of the rollers in the same direction, but preventing any reverse rotation. S indie 51 is driven .from shaft 58 by suitab e gears, as 54,- 55, 56, the intermediate one 55 bein mounted on an adjustable bearing 57 to al ow substitution of difierent-sized spurs for changing the relative speed of the feed-rollers. See

5 Figs. 1 and 3. Shaft 58 is shown journaled' l in an elbow-bearing 59, which also afiords' a bearing for the shaft 60, at right-angles to shaft 58. (Figs. 1 and 4.) Shaft 60 is driven from the main shaft 7 by a sprocket- 55 chain 61 passing around appropriate sprockets. On said shaft 60 is the drive-wheel 62, T having an intermittent gear 63 which periodically engages a bevel pinion 64 on the shaft 58; thus imparting the necessary intermittent rotations to the feed-rollers for feeding dnward the stay-feed-wire. In order to positively hold shafts 58 and 60 in proper ,relation during the intervals between feeds,

, so as to insure accurate initial engagement between the gears 63 and 64, shaft 58 has also a wiper 65, which contacts with an annular.smooth surface or hearing 66 on the drive-wheel 62, except when the intermittent gear 63 engages the bevel pinion 64; the said annular bearing 66 having a. break or interruption at 67 to allow the turning of the wiper during the engagement of the gears 63 and 64.

The speed of the machine being high, it

is evident that the initial engagement between the gears 63 and 64, suddenly transmitting power to the feed-mechanism and instantly rotating the erstwhile stationary shaft 58, exerts a sudden heavy strain upon the gears. To take this initial strain, and avoid liability of breakage of the teeth by the shock, due to quick action of the machine, the gears 63 and 64 have eacha great tooth or cog, as at 68, which coact at the outset of the engagement between said gears, each having of course also a wide space to accommodate these big teeth. .The pitch of the big teeth is preferably equal to twice the pitch of the regular teeth. It may be stated here that this same expedient is utilized throughout the machine; the initially-, coacting teeth of all intermittently-operating gears being preferably great teeth, to ta e the initial'sudden strain, avoid liability of breakage, and preserve smooth regular action of the mechanism. Hence it will be ulmecessary hereinafter to refer to the great teeth of the intermittent gears of various mechanisms-the purpose having been ex lained here.-

mm the shaft 60, the counter-shaft 48 is driven b the sprocket-chain 69 en a 'ng sprocket-w eels on the shafts. Sai s aft 48 has the cam 47 for actuating the'mecha 'nism (43, 44, 45, 46,) which forces the feedrollers to more t tghtl-y grip the stay-feedwire, during the eedin operation, as previously exp ained. Sha t 48 also has a cam 70, for actuatin a lever 71 referred to presently in the escription of the stay-feedwire guiding mechanism.

In feeding the stay-feed-wire, in is essential to accurately guide the'same dcross the strands, avoid any possibility of'catching it in either the strands or the mechanism, and at the same time provide for accurately positing said stay-feed-wire against or upon the strands in proper position for engagement by the coilers and for applying the stay. The guiding and positing devices must also avoid interference with the twisters. Effective mechanism for accomplishing these purposes will now be described, with reference more particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8. The operation of positing the stay-feed-wire occurs preferably durin the latter part of the period of feed of the strands, so that the interval of rest of the strands may be utilized for the stay-applying operation.

From the feed-rollers 40, the stay-feedwire is shown passed through a guide-tube 72, pivoted at its inlet end and inclined downward toward its outlet end. See Figs. '3 and 4. The purpose of inclining the uide-tube is to direct the stay-feed-wire into the guides across the machine, which are below or offset from the strands. The purpose of pivoting its inlet end is to allow raising of its outlet end when the wire -1S lifted up out of its guides and placed against the strands; it being understoodthat the stay-feedwire is fed under the strands, in the present mechanism, though the feed may be above, as before stated. However,

numerous advantages arise from :the under feed, which allows the efi'ecti\'e organism of mechanism and stay-forming operation hereinafter described; and'this is therefore considered a valuable pointof the invention.

or lifting the guide-tube, 6r raising it to approximately horizontal position, thelever 71 isshown, having an arm 71 provided with a roller 71 actuated-by the cam 70 on shaft 48,-as before mentioned. Said cam .actuates the leve'rxto raise the uide-tube simultaneously 'with the lifting o the stay- ,feed-wire out of'its guides acrossthe machine; and-the cam holds the guide-tube so raised untilthe finished sta is cut or sevcred fromthe feed-wire. The guide-tube 72 is also capable of a lateral swin ing movement bein g movedb the staycedwire from the initial position indicated by dotted lines in Fig; 3 to the full line position; the guides (boiler-heads a ainst which the stay-wire is lodged prelim arily to the stay-making operation.

"From the pivoted guide-tube .72the stayfeed-wire passes through a series of alined uides 73, comprising substantially longitudinally-divided or separable tubes with funnel-shaped inlet ends. See Figs. 3, 4, 7 and 8. These guide-tubes or funnels are shown supported by brackets or standards on a transverse beam 74. ,One half-tube of each guide iscarried by an arm i5 hinged'at 77 to the arm 76 carrying the other half-tube, as more cle'arly shown in Figs 4, 7, 8 and 14. Springs 78 may act upon the arms and 76, to hold the half-tubes of 73 yieldingly closed together but allow them to sep arate or open when the stay-feed-wire is 66 transferred or lifted out from, the guides.

This is performed by the lifters 86, which act between adjacent guides; each lifter be ing guided in its vertical movements hc tween a depending In 79 at the outlet end 60 of one guide or half-tn )c thereof and the upright edges of the supporting arms 75 and 76 of the next tube (Figs. 4 and 7). However, instead of depending upon the springs 78 to hold the guides or funnels closed dur- 66 ing the infced of the stay-fecd-wire, it is ing slightly behind the preferable to employ positive means for that purpose. Indeed this may be necessary where the stay-wire is .not perfectly straight; for in that case the advancing end of the wire would force the funnels apart and escape. \Ve therefore use a series of presser arms 80, carried by a rock-shaft 81. See Figs. 2 and 8. These pressers, one for each guide (3r funnel, bear against the hinged members or arms 75'of each guide and hold the guides positively closed durin the entire time of feeding the stay-wire. Ihen the rock-shaft 81 carries the presser-arms away, in time to allow the wire to be lifted up out of the guide-tubes. With this mechanism, the springs 78 are unnecessar though the may be used to ieldingly old the funne s or guide-tubes c osed except for the instant ers to more readil draw the lengths of wire for the knots, an increases the life of these tools. In Figs. 2 and 3, the rock-shaft 81 is shown having an 'arm connected to an'actuatin'g rod 82 carrying a roller 83 engaged by a cam 84 on the shaft 60, for actuating said rock-shaft 81 which carries the presser arms 80 aforesaid. The roller 83 is kept in proper place by means of a pivoted guide-link 85, shown having a yoke inclosing the lower end of rod 82 and its roller 83.

The lifters-86 are arms or levers attached 'to a rock-shaft, as 87. 4 See Figs. 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8;: They are uided'between' the adjacent funnels or guide-tubes 73 as aforesaid, and have suitableseats or depressions as at 88 to hold' the stay-feed-wire'.as it is lifted up out of the guide-tubes. In Fig. 7 the lifters are shown holding the stay-wire up against or adjacent to the strands in position for engagement by the twister tool. In Fig. 8, the full lines show the lifters ready to lift out thcfstay wire, while the dotted lines showthe lifters raised, having transferredthc stay wire to the strands. In Fig. 3, the rock-shaft 87 is shown having an arm connected to an actuating rod 89 carrying a roller 90 engaged by an actuating cam 9,1 on the shaft 60.

93 isa pivoted guide-link, having a yoke holding thc lowgr end of rod 89 and its roller 90, for keeping the latter in proper position. I

I having 'bcen/uidcd through the funnels or guide-tubes 78,,and lifted by the lifters or level-s86 up against the strands, the staygas fccdnvire' must ncxtbe pushed back against plir ose, we referahl utilize, as in our mac ine of a oresaid atent No. 721605, a series pf heaters 93, shown attached to a rock-shaft 95. See Figs. 2, 4, 7 and 8. Said heaters comprise arms (one behind each twister), having fiat circular-faces 94 bifur cated to straddle the strands when pushmg the stay-wire back against the twister heads.

' The faces 94 of the heaters are preferably lifted out of the ,guides 73, the heaters remain back away from the twister-heads, as

shown in full lines in Fig. 8. But as soon as the lifters transfer the stay-wire to the strands, the rock-shaft 95 moves thebeaters toward the twister-heads; and said beate a yoke embracing spring 99 may thus push the wire againstthe twister-boa andhold it there during the stay-making anda'pplyin operation, as indicated inf del;--

ted lines in ig. 8. It will be'seen that the function of the lifters 86 is to displace the stay-wire'from the guides and elevate 11; to

- within reach of the heaters 93 and then act as'guides forthe. heaters to bring the 81:3):-

wire within the operation of the tools 'of twister-heads In Figs. 2 and 3, the rockshaft 95 is shown having an arm connected to an actuating rod 96 carryinga rollerf97 engaged by an actuating'cam98 on the shaft 60.

Number 99 is a pivoted gilide linlghaving e used to quickly-rock the rock-shaft for moving back the heaters, when the roller 97 is dropped by the cam 98.

Similar springs may be used for quicke'ning' the reverse movements of the lifters 86 and guide-pressers 80, but it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate such well-known expedients. 7 As before stated, the preceding operations of feeding, guiding and positing thestayfeed-wire are preferably performed during the feed'of the strands, for utilizing time to best advantage. The stay-wire having now been placed in position, the next operation is the attachment thereof to the strands,.which is done during the interval of rest of the strands. It will be remembered that, the strands being at rest, the stationary jaws are now gripping and holding them taut, while the traveling jaws 15 are moving forward to obtain anew grip upon the wires reliminary to the next intermittent feed. owever, the mechanisms and principles employed in the stay-applyin operation are also applicable to the per ormance of the same function during movement of the strands, as in a machine where the strands the roller 97.. Aretractile strand X which is threaded therethrough.

It is understood that in the stay-makin operation thc sta -feed-wire Y 15 lod against the strain crosswise thereof, and is also held against the face or rear end of .the twister-heads This end of' the twisterhead has a slot or cut-away portion 103, from the periphery to and around the axis; which slot receives the loop when formed in the s ay-feed-wiro. Numbers 104 and 105 denote twistingipoiling or wrapping rollers, a pa r of wide are shown journaled at oppom "recesses 1n theend of the coilin head. The ,opposedperipheries of the re cm are exposed within the'slot'or cut-away portion 103;'and preferably the rollers are ournaIed at such distancesfromthe axis of the twister 9: site sides ofthfef asial bore of the twister,; and preferably. approximately countersunk 'a'stoleave approximately-only the space of a the thickness of the stay-wire between the strandand the periphery of each roller. Number 106 denotes a twister-tool or loop ing pin,'slidable in of longitudinal eccentric bore or'socket; in the twister head, so as to revolve therewithg'and adaptedto protrude and retract, protrusion being into the slot 103 and past the face of the twister. For this urpose .the looping-pin is connected to a s idablc hrow or collar 107 on the spindle 101; which collar is actuated at proper eriods by the rocking oke 108 shown in igs. 1, 2,3, 8 and 9. heprotruding end of the looping-pin is booked, as shown more clearly inFigs. 10, 11 and 12. The loopingpin has a projection .199, lying in a recess or cut-away part of the collar 107 "and spring-held so as to hold the looping-pin with its hook pointing outward or toward the periphery of the twister-head. But the looping-pin is adapted to turn to point its hook toward the axis of the twister-head, as in Fig. 12. This is acconi lished at proper periods by engagement an projection 109 by a trippet or 110. Now in the stay-making operation, at the initial rotation of the twister, the looping-pinv 106 protrudes; it engages under the taut stayfeed-wire; and in revolvin it loops said wire by pulling the engage portion thereof over and around the strand. At the same time, the looping-pin retracts, so that ing its hook pulls the loop into the recess 103 in the twister-head. By the time the loop is formed and drawn into said recess (which requires about a three-fourths rotation of the twister) the looping-pin is turned, by tripping the finger 109 thereof, so that the hook points toward the axis of the twister and is withdrawn through the loop; thus releasing the loop from the looping-pen. On continued rotation of the twister, the advancing revolving roller 104 engages the loop close to the strand, or practically at the body of the stay-wire itself, and twists, coils or wraps said loop closely around the strand; while the other roller 105 follows and aids in the same operation, also pressing and securing the twist or knot, which is thus tightly compressed on the strand without tendency to relax. The operation is well illustrated in the different views of Figs. 6, 10, 11 and 12. It is observable that one twisting roller (as 104) would be sufiicient, through two opposed rollers are preferable. Since the stay wire abuts or lies lengthwise againstthe twisterhead at one side of the strand, the effect of the conjoint wire-drawing arid retracting action of the looping pin is to loo the wire over or around the strand with hot parts of the loop lying upon the strand, instead of one upon the other; and, by reason of the slight space between the strand andthe actripheries of the rollers, the loop or portion of the sta -feed-wire which is being wound or coiled 1s held tightly against the strand, the convolutions of the coil are prevented from over-lapping and are wound and rolled compactly; insuring rigid and durable knots or connections. Three rotations of the twister are ample for performing the whole operation.

At the end of the operation of making the loop and twisting it about the strand, the same operation having been progressively erformed on all the strands, and the finished stay having been severed from the stay-feed-wire, the next intermittent feed of the strands occurs, drawing the connections or knots between the stay and strands out from the twister heads. During this intermittent feed of the strands, the stay-feedwire is again fed across the strands, guided and posited in position, ready for the next stay-making and attaching operation.

The (wilt-rs or twisters, with the accessory devices thereof, may be actuated by any appropriate iiiechanism, for example by a reciprucatory member having a rack or intermittcnt racks adapted to engage the several twisters progressively, at the proper periods. However. as an important part of our inrention, we have devised exceedingly ellcc tive actuating mechanism, particularly adapted to the work and peculiar stgiy-applying mechanism of the present machine.

This will now be described, in connection with one coiler or twister.

The coiler or twister is rotated at the proper periods by an actuating wheel 111, having an intermittent gear 112 whichengages a bevel pinion 113 on the twister-spindle. See Figs. 3 and 8. The twister-spindle 101 has also a wiper 114, which contacts with an annular smooth surface or'bearing 115 on the drive-wheel to hold the twister in fixed position during the interval between successive stay-making operations; said annular bearing having a break or interruption at 116 to allow rotation of the wiper during operation of the twister. The drivewheel 111 is also conveniently utilized as the actuator for the sliding collar 107 on the twister-spindle. The mechanism employed in this connection comprises'a cam 117 on the drive-wheel which actuates a lever 118 fulcrumed on the shaft 119 and having a rocker-arm 120 to which is attached the yoke 108.which controls the said sliding collar 107. The cam 117 lifts the lever 118 at the oint 117, to retract the looping-pin 106 or drawing the loop of the stay wire into the slot 103 of the twister-head or between the twistin rollers 104, 105, and holds said lever raise while the 100 is being coiled or twisted around the stran till the point 11"1" of the cam is reached,,when the lever is lowered to project the looping-pin into osition for engaging the next stay wire and rawing the loop thereof. When the loo ing-pin 106 retracts, to bring the loop of t e stay wire in between the twisting rollers, said loopingpin also turns to disenga e its hook from the 00p, as beforeexplaine this being accommay be carried by a movable part adapted to brin said trippet into position for en aging the nger .109 at the proper perio s. In Figs. 8 and 9 it is shown carried by a rod121 actuated by'a cam 122 on a shaft 123, which shaft may be driven by chain and Isprockets (not shown) or otherwise from the shaft 60. It is understood that the si la mechanism here described is multiplied f the several twisters.

All the twisters and correlated mechanisms may be substantially similar, but in the illustrated machine an exception exists in the case of the first twister, which is the one farthest from the feed-rollers 40 that feed the stay wire across the strands. This first twister does not form a loop in the stay wire, but merely coils or twists the extremity of said wire around the farthest or outermost strand of the series. Hence it is desirable torotate this twister in a reverse direc tion to the rotation of the others. This is for the following reason. It it understood that each looping-pin 106 (of the second and lished by the trippingof the finger or roihction 109 by the toe 110 as aforesaid. This toe or trippet 110 may be stationary, or it the other twisters.

following twisters), as it forms the loop in the stay-wire, draws in an additional length of said wire, sutlicient to provide material for the loop; and obviously it is desirable for the looping-pins to engage and draw the stay-wire at the sides of the strand nearer or toward the feed rollers 40, as shown in Fig. 6. Here the loopingpins (for the secmid and following twister-s) are shown adapted to engage under the stay wire, at the righthand sides of the respective strands, and loop it over the strands toward the left. Since the first twister acts upon the extremity of the stay wire, it should engage under said extremity of the stay wire, at the left-hand side of the outermost strand, and bend it over said strand toward the right. l urlhcrnuu'e this action provides tension in the stay wire between the first and second twisters. And the first and second twisters may a'ct practically or nearly simultaneously; it being only necessary for the stay wire to be engaged and held on the outermost or first strand when the loopingpin of the second twister draws the loop over the second strand. The other twisters should operate in progression, as before stated. The stay wire is tensioned between the second and third. twisters, and between every adjacent pair of twisters, by the tension resulting from the successive loop drawing; the stay-fced-wire being successively pulled in between the gripping feed rollers 10 by the lOOPlIIg-PlHS. The arrangement here described is not absolutely essential, but is desirable for the foregoing reasons. or rotating said first twister in an opposite direction to the others, various eX pedients may be employed.

An eflicient construction of reversing mechanism is shown in Figs. 15, 1G, and 17. Ilere the twister 100 is carried by a short spindle 124, in alinement with the usual twister spimlle 101. Spindle 101 has a gear 12:2 meshing with an idler 126, which meshes with an idler 127, which drives a pinion 128 on spindle 124 and thus imparts to said spindle 1524 and its twister, rotation in a direction opposite to that of the other.

twister-s. The gearing 125 to 128 is contained in a suitable box 129. inasmuch as the first twister does not form a loop, the usual loo in; pin may be omitted; though the said looping pin may still be used for primarily engaging the extremity of the stay-feed-wire and bending itover the strand and pulling it into the recess 103 of the twister-head. But, in the illustrated machine, this first or end twister does not carry the looping-pin and actuating sliding collar therefor, as in Vith this particular twister, its slot 103 lies horizontal at the outset, to readily receive the end of the stay wire, which is driven side 'se into said slot by a simple beater 93 vi ating with the beater-shaft 95 (Fig. 3) and located outside the twister and having sufficient stroke to more than drive the wire to the base of the slot. The principle is the same as that utilized with respect to the end twisters in the machine of said Patent No. 721605, wherein the end heaters were provided with fingers to bend or snap the extremities of the stay wire into the recesses of the twister-heads or between the twister-rollers; and the same expedient is applicable here if desired. The same may be said of the last twister of the series, or the one nearest to the feed-rollers 40. Said last twister may operate like the intermediate ones, that is it may loop the stay wire and coil or twist the loop around the strand, and the stay may then be severed by the knives or cutter from the stay-feedwire. But it is preferable to first cut the stay wire, immediately after the action of the twister adjacent to the last (or the twister nearest but one to the feed-rollers); and then have the last twister twist the extremity of the stay around the outermost strand. Hence the last twister may have a retractable pin for engaging and pulling the extremity of the stay into the twisterhead, or the coactive beater may be provided with a finger for snapping said extremity into place; or this may be done by the knives.

Thus far we have considered the coilers or twisters and actuatin mechanism singly. The arrangement of t e mechanisms in series will next be described.

The several twisters are shown arranged in a series across the machine, the spindles 101 being journaled in the bearings 102 on the transverse beams 130. See Figs. 3, 6 and 8. It is preferable for the first twister and second twister to act substantially or nearly in unison, though they rotate in reverse directions, as before stated. This concurrent action enables the first twister to bend up and coil or twist the extremity of the stay-feed-wire around the outermost strand as the looping-pin of the second twister draws the loop and bends it in the opposite direction around the second strand. In any event, the first twister should operate either before or simultaneously with the second twisterso as to Secure a hold of the stayfeed-wire onthe first strand before or during the action of the second twister in looping it around the second strand. The other twisters operate in progression, so thatthc looping-pin of each twister draws in the necessary additional length of the stay-feed-wire for the loop before the next looping-pin engages said stay-feed-wire. As stated in the introductory remarks, the purpose of the progres sive action of the twisters is to avoid drawing the loops simultaneously, which would result in breakage of the stey-feed-wire; because the looping-pin (if each twister draws i the shaft 131 is shown having a bevel gear 132 meshing with bevel gear 133 on inclined shaft 134. Shaft 134 tas a bevel gear 135 which is intermittently engaged by an intermittent gear 136 on the main shaft 7; which thus imparts intermittent rotation to the shaft 131, so as to operate the twisters and coacting devices during the interval of rest of the strands. Shaft 134 has also a wiper 137 which contacts with an annular smooth surface or bearing 138 on the gear 136, during the feed of the strands, so as to avoid movement of the power transmission mechanism between the main shaft 7 and drive-wheel shaft 131 during said feed. Said bearing 138 has a break or interruption at 139 to permit rotation of the wiper during en agement between the gears 136 and 135. he shafts 7 and 134 are shown journaled in the same elbow bearing 140, which maintains the proper relation between the gears.

At the completion of each stay-applying operation, the finished and attached stay is cut off or severed from the sta v-feed-wirc. by any suitable knives or cutting un -chanism; or, as before remarked. the cutting may be done before the action of the last twister (that nearest the feed-rollers 40), and said twister may then coil or twist the extremity of the stay wire around the last or outermost strand: the latter ar *angcment being in fact preferable. The cutters shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 comprise a fixed knife 141, and a coacting movable knife 14?. The

movable knife is shown pivoted and actuated by a rod 143 shown connected to a. lever 143 having a roller 114 in a cam-groove of a cam-wheel 145 on the shaft 131. the same canrgroove of the canrwhcel 145 being a circular or annular groove with bulge or projection for moving said roller 144 so as to actuate the knife. Said lcvcr 143* is pivoted to a fixed part of the ma chine frame.

The action of the various mechanisms being now understood. it will be su-llicient to briefly summarize the operation of the illustrated machine. As before stated. the rcciprocating jaws l5 intermittently grip and pull back the fabric. thus imparting the intermittent feed to the strands. During the inter a] of pause between feeds, the wires are gripped by the stationary jaws 14. Thus the wires are always held taut between the tcnsioning devices and one or the other of the sets of jaws. During the feed of the strands, the stay-feedwirc also fed by the feed-rollers 40 across the machine. through the guides 73, and it is lifted by the lifters h 3, and pushed by the heaters 93 back against the faces of the twisterheads thus positing the stay fccdwire in proper position for lorunltion and attachment of the stay. .\t this phase of the operation. the rm'iprocating jaws have reached the limit of their rearward travcl: and the stationarv jaws now grip the wires, which are thus held at First. while the reciprocating jaws release the same and then move baclnvard to obtain a new grip preliminarily to the next feed. During the rest of the strands. motion is transmitted to the twister-actuatingslmft 131 through the inclined shaft 134. thus rotating the series of drive-wheels lll. which actuate the twistcrs. or stay forming and attaching mechanisms in progression. thus forming and attaching the stay. in the manner hereinbeforc fully explained. .\t the completion of this operation. or imnn-diatcly preceding the action of the last coilcr or twister. the finished stay is scvcrcd or cut olf from the stay-fecd-wirc. The stay having thus been formed. attached and severed. the reciprocating jaws at the limit of their for ward travel bavc again gripped the fabric. The stationary jaws now release the name, while the reciprocating iaws move rearward. thus making the next ford of the strand. while silnultnncol sly the stay-fcedwire is fed across the niithinc and posited in position for the next stay forming and attaching operation. The finished fabric as it is drawn rearward bv the traveling jaws is continuously wound by the rccl onto a bundle or bale. which ma v be subsequently detached by removal of the reel from the machine. a well understood.

It will be nndcrsttmd that various modifications may be made in the arraugcmcnt and correlation of mechanisms, as well as in the several mechanisms thcnisclves. with out departing from the scope of our invention.

llaving thus fully described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States. is:--

1. wire fabric loom. including a series of rotary twistcrs arranged to apply a stay to :1 series of line wires. and opcrating mech anism therefor including a graduated series of twistcr-opcrating gears arranged to come into action one after another.

A wire fabric loom. including a series of combined slay-wire looping and twisting devices. means for feeding a stay to all of said devices. and means for operating the devices successively, after the stay has iii been fed to all of said devices, to form stay loops and wrap said loops upon line wires.

3. A wire fabric loom, including a series of combined stay-wire looping and twistin devices, means for feeding a stay simu taneously to all of said devices, and means for operating said devices to form stay loops ant to wrap said loops upon line wires.

4. A wire fabric loom, including a series of combined stay looping and twlsting devices, means for feeding a stay to all of said devices simultaneously, and means for oper ating certain of said devices simultaneously to form loops in the stay and to wrap said loops upon line wires.

5. A wire fabric loom, including a series of twisters, and twister operating mechanism including a series of driving gears, one for each twister, said driving gears being arranged out of line and said twisters being in line, whereby relative movement of the gears and twisters will cause the twisters to be bmught into action one after another.

6. A wire fabric loom, including a series of wire connecting devices adapted to connect a stay to a series of line wires, means for feeding a stay length across the series of line wires before the connecting devices begin to operate. and means for bringing certain of said devices into action successively beginning with a. device located at an intermediate point of the series.

7. A wire fabric loom, including twisters for connecting a stay to a series of line wires, means for feeding a stay length across the series of line wires before the twister-s begin to operate, twister operating means arranged to twist it stay wire around certain of the line wires at different times beginning with a line wire located at an intermediate point of the series.

8. A wire fabric loom, including a series of twiaters arranged to twist a stay around a series of line wires, means for feeding a stay length across the series of line wires before the twisters begin to operate, and twister operating means arranged to bring the twisters of a series into action successively. beginning with a twister associated with one of the intermediate line wires.

9. A wire fabric loom, including a combined loopcr and twister having a looping pin, and means for feeding a stay sidcwise .no position to be engaged by said pin.

10. A wire fabric loom, including a series of stay applying device a stay guide. and means for yicldingly urging the stay laterally out of the stay guidi and into position to bwengagcd by the applying devices.

11. A wire fabric loom, including a series of combined loopcrs and twister-s, stay feeding means arranged to feed a stay laterally to the combined loopers and twistcrs, means for feeding a stay wire longitudinally to said means, and means for severing a stay length from the stay wire.

12. A wire fabric loom, including a series of combined stay loopers and twisters, a series of prcsser feet associated therewith, and means for ell'ecting the simultaneous move ment of the presser feet.

13. A. wirefabric-making llltiGl'llIH. having, in combination, means for feeding a series of strands, means for successively placing a stay-wire-across the said series, and mechanism for forming a plurality of loops in the stay-wire while so placed and twisting said loops around corresponding strands.

14., In a wire-fabric-making machine, a series' of mechanisms for forming a. plurality of loops in a stay-wire and twisting said loops around a corresponding plurality of strands while the stay-wire is placed across the whole number of strands, said mechanisms timed to begin their operations in such rapid progression that a number are in simultaneous action, while yet allowing each mechanisn'i to take up the required length of stay-wire to supply a loop before take-up of said stay-wire for the next loop.

15. A wire-fabric-making machine hav ing, in combination, means for supporting a series of strands, means for placing a staywire across the said series and supporting it adjacent to the strands, and a progressively operating series of mechanisms for drawing portions of the stay-wire over corresponding strands in the form of loops and twisting said loops around the strands.

16. A wire-fabricanakin mac inc having, in combination, means or fee ing a se ries of strands, means for intermittently feeding a continuous stay-fced-wire across said series from one side, ,and a program si vcly-o1wratlng series of mcdlianisms adapted to draw portions of the stay-fced-wirc in the form of loops over corresponding strands and twist said loops around said strands, said series of mechanisms operating during the interval between successive periods of feed of the stay-feed-wire.

17. A wire-faln'ic-making machine haw ing ;in combination, mechanism for feeding a series of strands, mechanism for successively feeding a stayd'embwirc across and placing it adjacent to the said series of strands, stay-applying mechanism opt-rating betviwen the intervals of feed of said stayfemtwire comprising means forbending intcrlncdiatc portions out of the length of the sta y-fcc(l\vire over the strands and twisting the same around the strands, anda periodically acting cutter for severing the finished stay from the stay-fecd-wire.

18. A wire fabric-making machine having, in combination, mechanism for holding a series of strands, mechanism for placing a stay-wire across and against the said seseries of strands, mechanism for bending a mg. in combination, means series of loops in a stay-wire while held across and adjacent to the said series of strands, and mechanism for twisting said loops around the strands.

:30. A wire-fahric-niaking machine having, in combination, mechanism for intermittently feeding a series of strands, mechanism for simultaneously feeding and placing a stay-wire across and adjacent to the said series of strands, and stay-applying mechanism operating between the intervals of feed and comprising means for bending intermediate portions out of the length at the stavwire and twisting the same around the strands. and a periodieally-acting cutter for severing the finished stay from the stay feed wire. I

it, A wire-talirie-making machine havfor holding a series of strands, mechanism for progres sively bending a series of loops in a transversely-placed stayovire while held adjacent to the said series of strands, and mechanism for twisting said loops around the strands 12. A wire-t'ahricanahing machine hav ing. in tannhination. mechanism for intermittently feeding a series of strands. mecha- "nism t'or intermittently feeding a stayleed -\vii'e successively across and placing it adjacent to the said series oi strands, stayapplying mechanism operating between the periods of feed and comprising means for progressively bending the extremity of said stay-feed-wire and internn-diate portions out of the length thereol' mm the respective strands and twisting the same around the strands. and a periodically-arting cutter i'or severing the attached stay from the stay teed \v i re.

2 wired'aln'ic-making machine having. in combination. means for holding a. series of strands, and mechanism for progressively bending a series of loops in a stay-wire while held adjacent to the said series of strands. and concurrently twisting said loops around the strands.

it. A wire-fabric-making machine having, in combination, means for holding a serie f strands, means for securing the ex trennty ot a cross-w'rc to one of said strands, and a plurality of progressivelyacting devices each of which draws a loop from the cross-wire while held against the several strands and twists the same around the particular strand. the drawing in of the cross-wire for providing the successive loops being toward its aforesaid extremity.

25. A wire-fabric-making machine having. in combination, means for feeding a series of strands, n'iechamsm for successively feeding and placing a stay-tecd-wire across and adjacent to the several strands, means for securing the extremity of said stay-wire to one of said strands, and a plurality of progressively-acting devices each of which draws a loop from the stay-wire and twists the same around a particular or respective strand, the teed-mechanism for the stay-teed-wire allowing it to be drawn in toward its aforesaid extremity, for providing the successive loops.

2a. A wire-tabrie-making machine having. in combination, means for holding a series of strands, means for holding a staywire across the several. strands, and mechanism for successively bending intermediate portions of the st; y wire while so held into loops at intervals and twisting said loops around the strands.

27. A wire-tabric-n'iaking machine haviiw. in combination, mechanism for intermittently feeding a series of strands, mechanism for simultaneously feeding a stay-wire across the strands, and stay applying mechanism acting during the interim ot pause comprising means for securing the extremity of said stay-wire to the outermost or farthest strand and a plurality oi progressively-acting devices each of which draws a loop from the sta v wire and twists the same around a respective strand, the drawing in of the cross-wire for providing the successive loops being toward its aforesaid extremity, and a periodically acting cutter tor severing the attached stay from the stay-feed-wire.

in. A wire-fabric-making machine having. in combination. mechanism for intermittently feeding a series of strands, mechanism for successively feeding a stay-feedwire across the entire series of strands, a series oi progressively acting mechanisms operating during the interims of pause for bending portions from the length o'lsaid wire and twisting the same around the strands, the teed-wire being successively drawn inward by said mechanisms to furnish the additional lengths taken up he said bent and coiled portions. and a periodicallyaeting cutter i'or severing the finished stay from the teedavire.

21 A \virc-fabricanaking machine having, in combination. a plurality of progressively acting stay -applying mechanisms comprising rotatable spindles axially-bored for passage of the strands therethrough and having twisting rollers and looping-pins adapted to draw portions of a stapwire .85 ing, in, combination, a progressively-operat-u tudmally-separable parts spr1ng-held toplaced across the strands into engagement by said twisting-rollers, and actuating mechanism therefor. v

30 A. wire-fabric-m'aking machine havmg, in combination, a'plurality of progressively-acting stay-applying mechanisms comprising revolving twisting-devices and associated retractable hooked looping-pins latter, and mechanism for forming loops in said staywvire and securing the same to the strands during the intervals of rest.

32. A wire-fabric-making machine having, in combination, a plurality of progressively-acting' stay-applying mechanisms comprising, twisting-devices and loopingmg mechamsm therefor, means for feeding pins, adapted to draw. portions of a staystay-wire across the strands, guides for said stay-wire, positing me hanism for transferring said stay-Wire rom said guides to position for engagement by the twistingheads, and actuating-mechanisms for the before-named mechanisms.

36. A wire-fabric-making machine having, in combination, series of twister-s for attaching a stay-wire to a series of strands, means for feeding the stay-wire across the series of strands, a plurality of alined guides for guiding said stay-wire as it is fed, a plurality of rocker-arms for displacing said stay-wire laterally from said guides, and a series of rocker-arms for beating said staywire within action of the twisters, the firstmentioned rocker-arms moving the wirewithin reach of the latter rocker-arms and adapted to guide the wire as it is beaten to the twisters.

37. A wirefabricmaking machine having, in combination, means for feeding a series of strands, a series of twisters, actuata stay vire across the strands, a plurality of .wire while placed across the series of strands alin ed guides for guiding said stay-\vire into engagement by said twisting-devices, during its-feed, and means, for transferring mechanism for intermittently feeding the the stay wire laterally from said guides and strands through said stay-applying mechanisms, mechanismfor intermittently feeding a stay-wire across the series of strands, and mechanism for actuating said stay-ap plying mechanisms during'the interval of rest of the strands and stay-wire.

33. ,A wire-fabric-making. machine havlng seriesof rotary. twisters for attaching a stay-wire crosswise to a-series of strands, stay-wire therethrough, and means for supporting. said stay-wir devices for forcibly across" thefsaid series of strands and in pos'- tion for engagement by the said series of twisttars, said twisters-having looping-tools for engaging said stay-Wire and drawing portions thereof in the form of loops over 39 the corresponding strands, means for releasing said tools from said loops, and means for twisting said loops around the strands.

V 34. A wire-'firhric-making machine havli'ng, in combination, mechanism for intermittently feeding aseries-of strands, mechanism for successively feeding a stay-wire across the strands, means for holding said stay-wire against all the strands, and mechanism for forming loops in said stay-wire and securing the same to the strands during the intervals of rest.

35. A wire-'fabric-making machine having, in combination, a plurality of stay-up plying mechanisms comprising rotatable holding it against the strands in position for engagement by the twisters.

38. A wirc-fabric-making machine having, in combination, means for feeding a gether, means for successively feeding a and transferring transferring the starywire from said guides flgfllllfil the springresistance thereof and lacing it adjacent to the strands in position for mgagement by tli twisters.

f A wire-fabric-making mach as having in combination, means for feeding l series 0 strands, a series of twisters, actua ing mechanism therefor, means for feeding a stayj p 0 wire across the strands, means for aiding the stay-wire during its feed. devices for transferring the stay-wire :and holding it adjacent to the strands, and a series of heaters for moving and holding the stay-wire adjacent to the faces of the twistcrs.

40. A wire-fabric-making machine having,

in combination, means for feeding a,serios of strands, a series of twisters, actuating mechanism therefor, means for feeding a stay-wire across thestrands, a plurality of tubular guides for guiding the stay-wire spindles axially-bored for passage of the during its feed, said tubular guides adapted strands thorethrough and having twistingheads provided with devices for engaging .and drawing portions of a transversely placed stay-wire and twisting the same around the strands. means for feeding a to open or separate to release the stay vire, and devices for transferring the stay-Wire from said guides and placing it adjacent to the strands in. position for engagement by the twisters.

41: A wire-fabric-making machine, having in combination, means for feeding a series of strands, a series of twisters, a plurality of tubular guides transversely-disposed to the strands and comprising longitudinally-separable parts, means for positively holding said guides closed and adapted to allow them to open at intervals, tansferring devices for transferring the stay-wire from said guides when allowed to open and placing it adjacent to the strands in position for engagement by the twisters.

42. A wire-fabric-making machine having,

in combination, means for feeding a series of strands. a series of twisters, actuating mechanism therefor. means for feeding a staywire across the strands, a plurality of alined guides forguiding the stay-wire during its feed. devices for trans rring the stay-wire from said guides againe. the strands, and a series of heaters for moving and holding the stay-wire against the faces of the twisters.

43. A wire-fabric-making machine having, in combination, a series of twisters, means for feeding a series of strands therethrough, actuating mechanism for said twisters, means for feeding a stay-wire across and under the strands, a plurality of tubular guides for guiding the stay-wire during its feed, said tubular guides adapted to open or separate to release the stay-wire. during its feed, said tubular guides adapted said guides and holding it up adjacent to the strands in position for engagement by the twisters.

44. A wire-fabric-ma king machine having. in combination, means for feeding a series of strands, a series of twisters, a plurality of tubular guides transverse]vdisposed to the strands and comprising longitudinally-sepa rahle parts, a roclcshaft having a series of pressers adapted to hold said guides closed and adapted to be moved away to allow them to open. and devices for transferring the stay-wire from said guides when allowed to open and placing it against the strands in position for engagement by the twisters.

45. A wire-fabric-makingmachinehaving, in combination. a series of twisters for attaching a stay to a series of strands. means for feeding the stay-wire under and across the strands, and a plurality of lifters for lifting and holding the stay-wire adjacent to the strands, together with a series of heaters for pushing and holding the stay adjacent to the twister-faces during the stayattaching operation.

46. A \vire-fahric-making machine having, in combination, a series of twistcrs for attaching a stay to a series of strands. means for feeding the stay-wire under and across the strands, separable guide-tubes for guiding the stayqvireacross. and a rockshaft carrying plurality of lifters located b twecn the guide-tubes for transferring or lifting up the stay-wire adjacent to the strands.

47. \vire-fahric-ma king machine having, in combination. means for feeding a series of strands. a series of mechanisms through which the strands are threaded having devices for securing a transverse stay-wire to the strands, means for feeding the stay-wire across the strands. a plurality of separable tubular guides for said stay-wire, a plurality of devices for transferring the staywire from said guides to the strands, and a series of heaters for pushing and holding the stay-wire to position for engagement by the stay-attaching mechanisms.

48. A \virefabric-making machine having. in combination, means for feeding a series of strands, a series of twisters through which the strands are threaded having devices for engaging and drawing intermediate portions of a transverse stay-wire and twisting the same around the strands, means for feeding the stay-wire across the strands, a plurality of separable tubular guides for saldstay-wire, a plurality of devices for transferring the stay-wire from said guides to the strands, and a series of heaters for pushing and holding the stay-wire to position for engagement by the twisters.

49. A wire-fabric-making machine having. in combination. a stay-applying'mechanism for attaching a stay-feed-wire to a plurality of strands, feed-mechanism for feeding the stay-wire across the strands at a distance therefrom, guides for guiding said stay-feed-wire across. a swinging or pivoted guide-tube for directing said stay-feed-wire from said feed-mechanism to said guides,

and means for transferring the stay-feedwire from said guides and placing it 'adjacent to the strands.

50. A wire-fabric-making machine 'having. in combination. stay-applying -mechanism for attaching a stay-fced-wire to a plurality of strands. feed-mechanism for feeding the stay-wire across the strands and under the same. guides for guiding said stay-feed-wire across. a pivoted guide-tube for directing said sta v-feed-\vire from said feed-mechanism to said guides. and means for transferring the stav-fced-uire from said guides and placing it adjacent to the strands.

51. \virwfabric-making machine having. in combination. a series of mechanisms for attaching a stay-wire to a series of strands. a drive-shaft. and a series of driveuhcels set at succcssivclyalitferent angles thereon and geared to said mechanisms for operating them in progression.

59. \vircfabric-making machine having. in combination. a scrics of twisters for attaching a stay-wire to a series of strands. said twistcrs having rcciprocatory loppingpins and slidable actuating collars therefor,

Ill 

